Liebherr has reached a significant milestone in its partnership with BrieseSchiffahrt with the delivery of the 50th LS 250 ship crane. The latest crane will be installed on the vessel BBC Shanghai, which is scheduled to depart from its Asian shipyard later this month. The achievement highlights a long-standing collaboration focused on reliable lifting performance, energy efficiency, and continuous technical advancement in heavy-lift shipping.
The partnership between Liebherr and BrieseSchiffahrt dates back to 2014 and has grown steadily as Briese expanded its fleet and operational capabilities. Over the years, the LS 250 crane has become a key component of Briese’s vessels, valued for its balanced lifting capacity, wide outreach, and effective deck coverage. According to Bernd Böning, Director of Newbuilding at BrieseSchiffahrt, the cranes have consistently delivered dependable performance, reinforcing Liebherr’s role as a trusted long-term partner.
Continuous development has played a central role in the evolution of the LS 250. Earlier crane models featured bulkier structures, while current designs incorporate slimmer, tapered columns and more streamlined booms. These refinements improve space efficiency, increase available deck area, and support compliance with operational requirements such as those governing the St. Lawrence Seaway and the Great Lakes.
Additional design enhancements include a higher pivot point between the boom and column, creating more open deck space, and an optimized reeving system that routes the luffing rope through the center of the boom to improve load performance across the full outreach range. The compact boom head design also simplifies integration alongside the deckhouse and improves vessel layout flexibility.
Liebherr has also supported Briese’s newer vessel concepts, including the LakerMax series, which features a forward-positioned bridge to maximize aft deck space. For these vessels, Liebherr extended the crane boom length to 36 meters while maintaining a maximum lifting capacity of 250 tonnes at an 18-meter radius. Hydraulic systems were further refined to reduce oil volume by half, replace flexible hoses with durable piping, and lower maintenance requirements.
Robert Pitschmann, Global Application Manager for Heavy Lift Offshore and Ship Cranes at Liebherr Rostock, said the delivery of the 50th LS 250 reflects a shared commitment to innovation, efficiency, and operational reliability. He noted that each crane delivery contributes tangible value to both the fleet and the wider maritime industry.
Equipped with Liebherr’s Litronic control system, the LS 250 offers intelligent crane operation through real-time performance monitoring and automatic load management, enabling smooth, safe, and efficient lifting cycles. As heavy-lift shipping continues to evolve, Liebherr remains focused on advancing digitalization, sustainability, and customer-centric engineering to meet future demands.
Liebherr is a globally recognized family-owned engineering and manufacturing group known for its advanced machinery, equipment, and technology solutions. Founded in 1949 in Germany, the company operates across a wide range of sectors including construction machinery, mining equipment, maritime cranes, aerospace systems, transportation technology, and refrigeration. With a strong emphasis on innovation, quality, and reliability, Liebherr develops and manufactures high-performance products at sites around the world, supported by a comprehensive global sales and service network. The group continues to invest in engineering excellence, digitalization, and sustainable technologies to meet the evolving needs of customers across industrial and infrastructure markets.
